Ooooby Model in a Paper Bag

[Pete Russell]

Lately I have been approached by a few people who would like to start an Ooooby Project and would therefore like to understand the Ooooby Enterprise Model.

So here goes...

First there is Ooooby.org.

Ooooby.org is a social enterprise. Actually Ooooby.org is not a registered entity yet. It is simply a project within my personal company. The intention however is, in time, to form a type of entity. This will be a zero-dividend organisation. Meaning that it may generate profits, however the profits are not given to the shareholders. They are instead directed at supporting local food systems at the community level.

Then there is Ooooby.com.

Ooooby.com is a commercial enterprise. It has not actually been formed yet either. Upon its formation it is intended that the shares will be owned by the following people.
James Samuel - 20%, Katherine Russell - 7%, Karen Russell - 3% and Pete Russell - 70% (51% non dilute able - for now).

Ooooby.org grants domain access to Ooooby.com in perpetuity.

(Domain access means the rights to use the ooooby.com domain name and rights to full access to the ooooby.org networks and databases for the purposes of providing or promoting goods and services to Ooooby members.)

In return, Ooooby.com gives 50% of net profits to Ooooby.org

This is a sort of licensing deal that stipulates that O.com must act within the parameters set by O.org. I like to refer to this as a yin yang arrangement between social and capital systems. O.org is like the steering wheel and O.com is like the motor.

Please ask questions below and give feedback.

[Pete Russell]

This is an excerpt from a thesis written by Federica.

O.O.O.O.B.Y. has great potential as a food network and can become a good global model, which is something Pete Russell is working on at the moment. He did not put a copyright on O.O.O.O.B.Y., which means that there are no restrictions in the use of the name for food co-operatives. At the same time the name could be misused by people for advertising and marketing reasons. The contradiction is: shall O.O.O.O.B.Y. become a more established entity and loose part of the activist-side that was born with; or shall it remain a local scale and particular alternative food network?

A parallel movement to the O.O.O.O.B.Y. is the Transition Town movement which emerged in 2001 in an adult education class in Kinsale, co Cork, run by Rob Hopkins. It looked at how at a small local level people could engage with a process that would lead to a positive sustainable future. The idea spread and became a movement when Rob Hopkins moved to Totnes in the UK, and brought the process with him. Since then 300 communities in the UK and 2000 world wide have become Transition communities. When the movement began it was activist in nature, but some elements of the movement have now become more formalized, for example Transition UK are now incorporated (Hopkins & Lipman 2009). This created different reactions among the followers from several countries, who are now thinking whether to sign and accept the burocratic aspect of the movement or not.

The same situation could happen to O.O.O.O.B.Y. in the foreseeable future and common sense and acceptance must be taken into consideration then, not to loose the revolutionary aspect of the project and to bring it to a global scale, with no loss, or introduction of generalizations.

[Pete Russell]

I had an interesting chat with Ruth early Sunday morning. She commented that perhaps the model is a bit franchisee. I can see the resemblance and respect that it might not vibe with some. The model is still very much in flux so changes can be made to some degree. I am wanting to achieve the best model which will make it as appealing as possible for people from all walks of life to participate as a member, crew and/or investor. Only with all three of these areas being fulfilled can we produce a system that works for all of us. Please feel free to suggest any changes to the model or to explore more details here in this comment thread.

[andrew clay]

Pete, Quite impressive, interesting and informative. I am en route to NZ from CA for 3 days. BW, Andrew

[Pete Russell]

You don't need to form the Coop straight away, you can just get the stall happening for a little while first. Once you feel comfortable, you can register a Coop and engage with the support service that we are developing. Also, the first few Coops will not have a $1000 fee. So the cost would only be $5 per $40 membership sold.
Ah yes, the national online store is another to be revealed project. Probably not until April or so next year, but it is in the pipeline.

I look forward to the call.

[KATE MORONEY]

Hi Pete, Looks great just a couple of questions:
* starting an Ooooby market stall we need to join up as a Co-op?
* What is the national online store? this site? or another to be revealed project?
we are in process of organising a skype with you & will let u know soon when.
Cheers Kate

[Hester]

This is exciting. So much potential.